14 pct of Dutch population are problem drinkers

Some 14 percent of the entire Dutch population can be classified as "problem drinkers", according to the Trimbos institute. These are people who have problems because of their drinking, like failure to meet obligations or driving under the influence, the Telegraaf reports.

"Of the 80 percent of the population aged 18 or older who drank alcohol in the past year, one in six can be considered as risky drinkers This corresponds to 1,790,000 people or 14 percent of the total population", according to the institute.

Problem drinkers are almost three times more common among male alcohol users than female and twice as common among highly educated drinkers than less educated alcohol users.